Crimping press with automatic feed



July 2, 1968 F. FRAsTAcl 3,390,567

CRIMPING PRESS WITH AUTOMATIC FEED Filed March 1, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1l 2 4 MFT ,mi le Il" qu n l||||| E' l|||w Illu* 0 7 j 6' 2 Il' lnlll'i||||r 6 lill". ll ,|I

fighi INVENTOR FRA/Vl( FRASTC/ #WWW/MIM ATTURNEYS July 2, 1968 F.FRAsTAcl 3,390,567

CRIMPING PRESS WITH AUTOMATIC FEED Filed March l, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Mmmm g l "MII" 49 f zg. 5 INVENTOR,

FRA/VK FRSTC/ MMM/@MMM ATTORNEYS July 2, 1968 F. FRAsTAcl CRIMPINGPRESs`wITH AUTOMATIC FEED 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March l. 1965 s1 .Ju-

INVENTOR. FRA/VK FRSTC/ A T TORNE YS 3,390,567 CRlMiING PRESS WITHAUTOMATIC FEED Frank Frastaci, Parma, Ohio, assignor to ETCIncorporated, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 1, 1965,Ser. No. 435,945 8 Claims. (Cl. 72--421) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Acrimping press for successively crimping tape mounted terminals andconnectors having a fixed crimping die, a crimping die mounted on amovable ram, and a tape feed mechanism for feeding successive tapemounted terminals and connectors to the crimping dies in response tomovement of the ram away from the fixed die.

This invention relates generally to terminal crimping presses and moreparticularly to a crimping press for electrical terminals, or the like,provided with feed means for automatically feeding connectors intocrimping position wherein the supply of connectors is carried by aperforated tape.

It is widespread practice to mount various types of electrical terminalsor connectors on electrical conductors by inserting the bared end of theconductor wire into the connector and crimping the connector so that itis permanently mounted on the end of the wire and is provided with agood electrical connection therewith. Since the unmounted connectors arequite often small they provide a handling problem, particularly whenrelatively large numbers of crimping operations must be performed.

To reduce the handling problem and provide rapid, uniform, and highquality crimping the present invention includes a power operatedcrimping press having means operable to automatically feed tape mountedconnectors into the proper position for crimping. Therefore, with thepresent invention the user merely inserts the end of the conductor intoa wire guide so that the end of the conductor is properly positioned ina connector which is previously automatically positioned in the properplace within the machine. The machine is then actuated through one cycleof operation during which the connector is crimped onto the conductorand the subsequent connector is automatically positioned to receive thesubsequent conductor for crimping. Therefore, the machine automaticallyfeeds the connectors into position for crimping and the operator ismerely required to place the end of the conductor in the wire guide.With the illustrated machine relatively high production rates arepossible and as a result the cost of assembling the connector on theconductor is greatly reduced.

The illustrated embodiment of this machine includes a reciprocating ramon which is mounted a movable crimping die which cooperates with a fixedcrimping die mounted on the bed or frame. A cam drive mechanism powersthe feed for the terminal mounting tape lutilizing the reciprocatingmovement of the ram for the feed power. This structure inherentlyprovides the proper timing between the operation of the ram and thefeeding of the tape. The elements of the cam drive are arranged toprovide extreme simplicity, durability, and long life so that initialcosts and maintenance problems are minimized.

The actual feeding of the tape is accomplished by a feed slidereciprocable on the main frame in a plane normal to the direction of rammovement. Positive control insures exact positioning of each terminalpreventing over or under feeding and insuring uniform high qualityresults.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a novel andimproved crimping press incorporating autoited States Patent O 3,390,567Patented July 2, 1968 ice matic tape feeding means for accurately andpositively positioning an article such as an electrical connector in themachine on each operation thereof.

It is another important object of this invention to provide a novel andimproved crimping press for electrical connectors and the like enablingthe operator to rapidly and easily assemble and crimp electricalconnectors on electrical conductors wherein the supply of connectors ismounted on a tape automatically fed into the machine.

It is another important object of this invention to provide a novel andimproved crimping press having a reciprocating die carrying ramconnected to automatically operate the feed mechanism for articles beingcrimped in timed relation to the operation of the ram.

It is another important object of this invention to provide a novel andimproved crimping press having a reciprocable die carrying ram and afeed mechanism for automatically positioning articles to be crimped inthe machine wherein cam means connected between the ram and the feedmechanism automatically operate the latter in response to reciprocatingmovement of the ram.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a crimping presshaving a reciprocating die carrying ram with a drive cam mounted thereonwhich engages a follower on a reciprocating feed mechanism andautomatically operates the feed mechanism in timed relation to the ramreciprocation.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel andimproved crimping press having tape feed means automatically andpositively positioning articles to be crimped which are carried by thetape in crimping position and automatically removing the crimped articlefrom 'the crimping position after the completion of the crimpingoperation.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the followingdescription and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a preferred form ofcrimping press incorporating this invention illustrating the physicalrelationship between the die carrying ram and the tape feed mechanism;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the ram and feed mechanismwith the dies and wire guide illustrated;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the machine taken along a section above thefeed mechanism with parts removed for purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation taken along 4 4 of FIGURE 3 illustratingthe feed mechanism structure;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary section taken along 5 5 of FIGURE 4illustrating the mounting of the feed slide;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section,illustrating the structure and mounting of the drive pawl of the feedmechanism;

FIGURE 7 is and end elevation, partially in section, illustrating themachine with a terminal in position on the end of a conductor and thedies at the moment the crimping operation commences;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary section illustrating the cam drive for thefeed mechanism with the ram spaced above the cam engaging position;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 illustrating the elements at amidpoint in the cam operation wherein the feed slide is pressed rearwardpreparatory to gripping and feeding a subsequent terminal into thecrimping position; and

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURES 8 and 9 illustrating the elementsin the position they assume when I the ram reaches its bottom deadcenter position at the completion of the crimping operation.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the basic crimping machine includes a base frame10 on which are mounted vertically extending parallel ram guide rods 11and 12. A ram 13 is supported on bearings 14 and 16 for verticalreciprocation along the guide rods 11 and 12. The powering actuation forthe ram 13 may be of any suitable type known in the art, such as, butnot limited to, a crankshaft connecting rod linkage driven by a flywheelthrough suitable clutch and brake means intermittently operable to drivethe ram downwardly from its top dead center position to its bottom deadcenter position, during which the Crim-ping occurs, and back to its topdead center position. The clutch and brake mechanism is preferablyarranged so that each time a trip switch is operated the brake releasesand the clutch engages to drive the ram through one cycle and back up toits top dead center position at which time the brake automaticallyengages while the clutch automatically disengages.

Supported by the frame 1U is a die breast 17 on which is mounted a loweror fixed die 18. An upper die assembly 19 is mounted on the ram 13 andcooperates with the fixed die 18 to crimp a connector 21 on a conductor22 (illustrated in FIGURE 7) when the ram is carried down to its bottomdead center position. The supply of `conductors 21 is mounted on aperforated tape 23 which is progressively moved into crimping positionby a feed assembly 24 in a manner so that a conductor is positioned atthe crimping station each time the ram 13 com- -pletes one cycle andreturns to its top dead center position,

A wire guide member 26 is mounted on the machine frame adjacent to thefixed die 18 and is shaped so that the operator merely inserts the endof the conductor 22 along the guide 26 into the end of the uncrimpedconnector located at the crimping station so that the connector and theconductor are properly positioned relative to each other and relative tothe crimping dies. The guide 26 is open on its right side, as viewed inFIGURE 1, so that the connector is free to move out of the guide andaway from the crimping station as the ram returns to its top dead centerposition and a subsequent connector is fed into position.

Referring to FIGURES 4 through 6, the feed mechanism 24 includes a slideelement 27 formed with lateral flanges 28 yand 29 which fit into matingrecesses 29 and 31 in mounting plates 32 and 33, respectively. Theplates 32 and 33 are in turn bolted to a vertical plate 36 on themachine frame 10. The slide 27 is reciprocable in a horizontal directionperpendicular to the vertical direction of movement of the ram 13.

In order to bias the slide 27 to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 5, acompression spring 37 is mounted in a bore 40 in the plate 36 andengages an end plate 38 Ibolted to the end of the slide 27. A guide pin39 is mounted on the end plate 38 and extends into the spring 37 tocooperate with the bore 40 in guiding the spring.

The vertical plate 36 is formed with a vertically extending channel 41which guides a vertically moving cam 42 mounted for reciprocation withthe ram 13. The lower end of the cam 42 is formed with an inclinedcamming surface 43 which engages a lateral pin 44 mounted on the slide27 and extending rearwardly therefrom. The pin 44 functions as a camfollower and cooperates with the camming surface 43 to produce movementto the left (as viewed in FIGURE of the slide 27 when the cam 42 iscarried downwardly with the ram 13. The pin 44 also engages the wall 46of the channel 41 when the cam 42 is raised clear of the pin by upwardmovement of the cam. When the cam 42 engages the wall 46 it limitsmovement of the slide 27 under the iniiuence of the spring 37 anddetermines the right-hand extreme or forward position of the slide. Whenthe cam 42 is in the lowermost position, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, thepin 44 is located in a lateral recess 47 formed in the plate 36 and theslide 21 is in its left-hand extreme or rearward position.

The operation of the cam 42 in moving the slide 27 is 4 best illustratedin FIGURES 8, 9 and 10. When the ram is at its top dead center position(illustrated in FIGURE 8) the cam 42 is spaced above the pin 44 so theaction of the spring maintains the pin 44 in engagement with the wall 46and the slide in its right-hand or forward extreme position.

As the ram starts to move down to perform a crimping operation the cam42 moves downwardly until the camming surface 43 engages the pin 44. Atthis time further downward movement of the cam causes the pin 44 and inturn the slide 27 to move to the left toward its rearward positionagainst the action of the spring. FIGURE 9 shows the elements in anintermediate position wherein the downward movement of the cam 42 causesthe pin 44 to ride to the left along the camming surface 43 moving theslide 27 to the left.

As the ram continues to carry the cam 42 downward to the bottom deadcenter position (illustrated in FIGURE 10) the camming surface 43 iscarried past the pin 44 which then engages the left vertical wall 48 ofthe cam 42. At this time the pin 44 is located in the lateral recess 47and the slide 27 is in its rearward or left-hand extreme position.

The camming surface 43 has a vertical extent which is less than thestroke of the ram 13 so that the camming surface 43 will be spaced abovethe pin 44 when the ram is in the top dead center position and will havebeen carried down past the pin (as illustrated in FIGURE l0) when theram 13 is in the bottom dead center position. This permits overtravel ofthe cam 42 and produces the movement of the slide 27 during the downwardmovement of the ram while the dies are still spaced apart. This isimportant since the return of the slide 27 to the right-hand or forwardextreme position of FIGURE 8 does not commence until the upper ormovable die assembly 19 has raised away from the crimped connector 21 sothat feeding of the tape will not be prevented by die interference.

As the cam 42 is carried back up to the top dead center position by theram 13 the first part of the travel of the cam 42 in an upward directionmerely causes the pin 44 to ride along the vertical wall. Therefore, theslide 27 remains in a fixed position during this phase of ram retractionwhich lifts the movable die assembly 19 up away from the crimpedconnector. Then as the ram 13 continues to carry the cam 42 upward thecamming surface 43 moves into alignment with the pin 44 and the springreturns the slide 27 to its forward extreme position (illustrated inFIGURE 8). It is during this phase of the operation that the tape iscarried forward to position a subsequent connector at the crimpingstation.

The perforated tape 23 is formed with spaced rectangular openings 49(best illustrated in FIGURE 1) with a spacing of the opening 49 equal tothe spacing of the connector 21 mounted on the tape. A pair of pawls 51and 52 are carried by the slide 27 and similar and opposing pawls 53 and54 are mounted on the mounting plate 33. The structure of all four ofthe pawls 51 through 54 is identical excepting that the lower pawls 53and 54 face upwardly and the upward pawls 51 and 52 face downward.

Referring to FIGURE 6, the pawl 51 is pivoted on a pin 56 mounted on theslide 27 with its forward end 57 biased downwardly against the tape 23by a spring 58 acting through a plunger 59. When the forward edge 57 ofthe pawl 51 moves into a position over an opening 49 the forward edge 57drops into the opening permitting engagement with the forward wallthereof so that it can carry the tape 23 to the right as the slide 27returns to its forward position.

The two upper pawls 51 and 52 are provided at spaced points on the slide27 to engage spaced openings 49 in the tape 23 so that the tape isgripped for feeding movement at two spaced points. On the backstroke ofthe slide 27 as the cam moves downward the pawls 51 and 52 ride -up overthe tape between the openings and the t-ape is prevented from movingrearwardly with the slide 27 by the operation of the pawls 53 and 54.The Width of the cam 42 is selected so that the stroke of the slide 27is greater than the distance the tape is to be moved in each cycle toinsure that the pawls 51 and 52 will clear the edge of the opening anddrop down when the slide reaches the rear- Ward position of FIGURE 10.When the tape is fed forward with the slide 27 the pawls 53 and 54 camdown against their respective springs and ride along the lower surfaceof the tape between the openings again snapping into the openings at thecompletion of the forward feed.

The connectors 21 are located with respect to the openings 49 and thepawls 51 through S4 are located with respect to the dies so that whenthe slide 27 is in the forward extreme position of FIGURE 8 a connector21 is properly positioned for crimping. As the ram 13 carries the diestogether for crimping the slide 27 is moved to the left to its retractedposition, but the tape is held against rearward movement by the pawls 53and 54. On the upstroke of the ram 13 after the completion of thecrimping operation the slide 27 returns to its forward position and thepawls 51 and 52 carry the tape forward to position a subsequentconnector for crimping.

An adjustable guide 61 is positioned in front of the tape and a rearwardguide 62 engages the rearward edge of the tape to direct the tape intothe machine. A drag member 63 is pivoted on the rearward guide 62 by apivot bolt 64 and is provided 'with a friction pad 66 to engage the taperesisting overtravel and also insuring that the tape lays flat along theguides as it approaches the feed assembly 24.

In many instances the connector 21 is provided with an insulating sleevewhich fits over the forward end of the insulation 67 of the conductor22. In such instances a double crimp is provided. The forward crimp isforward of the end of the insulation 67 and the rearward crimp pressesthe insulation portion of the connector into gripping relationship withthe end of the insulation 67 of the conductor. For such crimpingoperations the die assembly 19 is provided with two die elements 68 and69. Normally the die element 69 is seated against a fixed reactionsurface 71 on a backup block 72 and the movable die element 68 ispositioned against an adjustment cam 73.

In the illustrated embodiment the cam 73 is provided with three ats 74,76 and`77, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. These flats are spaced from theaxis of the cam 73 by varying distances and vertical adjustment of theadjustable die element 68 is provided by rotating the cam 73 toselectively position the desired fiat in engagement with the movable oradjustable die 68. Thus the die can be adjusted vertically to compensatefor variations in thickness of the insulation material 67 on theconductor.

The flats 74, 76 and 77 are adjacent to each other and are arranged sothat they extend around the surface of the cam 73 through an arc of lessthan 180. A cylindrical surface 78 is provided on the cam through an arcof greater than 180. This cylindrical surface 78 has a diameter closelyfitting a cylindrical surface 79 in the die holder 72 and providedinnerengaging surfaces to support the crimping loads on the adjustabledie 68. Because the surface 78 extends around the cam through an arc ofmore than 180 a portion of the surface 73 is located opposite each fiatand is positioned at the top of the cam to support the crimping loadsregardless of the adjusted position of the cam. This insures that ascrew 81 used to fasten the cam 73 in position does not support thecrimping loads. The adjusting die 68 is formed with an axial slot 82permitting vertical adjustment of the cam element with respect to themounting bolt 83.

In operation the end of the tape 23 is positioned in the machine and fedforward until the first connector 21 is positioned for crimping. Theconductor 22 is then inserted into the guide 26 which positions thestripped end of the conductor 22 in the connector 21. The machine isthen cycled to cause the ram 13 to move from atop dead center positiondown through its bottom dead center position and back to its top deadcenter position. During the downward movement of the ram 13 the feedassembly slide 27 is carried to the left by the cam 42 but the tape 23remains stationary. When the ram reaches the bottom dead center positionthe crimping action is performed and the connector and conductor arejoined. On the upstroke of the ram 13 the slide 27 moves to the rightmoving the tape 23 to the right positioning a subsequent connector forcrimping. The operator then inserts a second or subsequent conductor inthe guide 26 and the cycle is repeated. In this way accurate crimping ofthe connectors on the conductors is achieved in each operation and theoperator does not have to perform any manual operations to feed theconnectors into position.

Although la preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated, it isto be understood that various modifications and rearrangement of partsmay be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A crimping machine for crimping connectors carried by a perforatedtape comprising a frame, a reciprocable ram on said frame movablebetween first and second positions, dies on said frame and ram operableto crimp a connector at a crimping station when said ram reaches saidfirst position, feed means including a reciprocable slide on said frameand rectilinearly movable between spaced positions, said slide having afinger engageable with said perforations of said tape operable uponrectilinear movement of said slide in one direction to move said tapeand sequentially position connectors at said crimping station, and cammeans interconnected between said ram and slide moving said slide insaid one direction in response to movement of said ram toward saidsecond position.

2. A crimping machine for crimping connectors carried by a perforatedtape comprising a frame, a reciprocable ram on said frame movablebetween first and second positions, dies on said frame and ram operableto crimp a connector at a crimping station when said ram reaches saidfirst position, feed means including a reciprocating slide on said frameand rectilinearly movable between spaced positions, said slide having anger engageable with said perforations of said tape operable uponrectilinear movement of said slide in one direction to move said tapeand sequentially position connectors at said crimping station, and cammeans interconnected between said ram and slide moving said slide insaid one direction in response to movement of said ram from anintermediate position spaced from both said first and second positionsto said second position.

3. A crimping machine for use with perforated tape supporting a supplyof connectors comprising a frame, a ram reciprocable on said framebetween said first and second positions, cooperating dies on said ramand frame operable to crimp a connector located at a crimping stationwhen said ram reaches said first position, a feed slide reciprocable onsaid frame and rectilinearly movable between a rearward position and aforward position, cam means carried by said slide and ram operable tocause movement of said slide to said forward position in response tomovement of said ram, and pawls on said slide and frame engaging saidperforations on said tape and cooperating to carry said tape forward assaid slide moves toward said forward position and preventing movementwith said slide when it moves toward said rearward position.

4. A crimping machine for use with a perforated tape supporting a supplyof connectors comprising a frame, a ram reciprocable on said framebetween first and second positions, cooperating dies on said ram andframe operable to crimp a connector located at a cri-mping station whensaid ram reaches said first position, a feed slide reciprocable on saidframe and rectilinearly movable between a rearward position and aforward position, cam means carried by said slide and ram operable tocause movement of said slide to said forward position as said ram movesfrom an intermediate position spaced from said first position to saidsecond position, and pawls on said slide and frame engaging saidperforations and cooperating to carry said tape forward as said slidemoves toward said forward position and preventing movement with saidslide when it moves toward said rearward position whereby a subsequentconnector is positioned at said crimping station each time said rammoves from said intermediate position to said second position.

5. A crimping machine for use with perforated tape supportingk a supplyof connectors comprising a frame, a ram reciprocable on said framebetween first and second positions, cooperating dies on said ram andframe operable to crimp a connector located at a crimping station whensaid ram reaches said first position, a feed slide reciprocable on saidframe and rectilinearly movable between a rearward position and aforward position, spring means urging said feed slide toward saidforward position, cam means carried by said slide and ram operable tomove said slide to said rearward position as said ram moves from saidsecond position toward said first position and allow return of saidslide to said `forward position as said ram returns to said secondposition, and pawls on said slide and frame engaging said perforationsand cooperating to carry said tape forward as said slide moves towardsaid forward position and preventing movement with said slide when itmoves toward said rearward position whereby a subsequent connector ispositioned at said crimping station each time said ram moves to saidsecond position.

d. A crimping machine for use with perforated tape supporting a supplyof connectors comprising a frame, a ram reciprocable on said framebetween first and second positions, cooperating dies on said ram andframe operable to crimp a connecter located at a crimping station whensaid ram reaches said first position, a feed slide reciprocable on saidframe and rectilinearly movable between a rearward position and aforward position, spring means urging said feed slide toward saidforward position, cam means carried by said slide and ram operable tomove said slide to said rearward position as said ram moves from saidsecond position to an intermediate position spaced from said firstposition and return said slide in said rearward position when said ramis between said intermediate position spaced from said first positionand return said slide in said rearward position when said ram is betweensaid intermediate position and said first position, and pawls on saidslide and frame engaging said perforations and cooperating to carry saidtape forward as said slide moves toward said forward position andpreventing movement with said slide when it moves toward said rearwardposition whereby a subsequent connector is positioned at said crimpingstation each time said ram moves from said intermediate position to saidsecond position.

7. A crimping machine for crimping electrical connectors carried by aperforated tape comprising a frame, a ram vertically reciprocable onsaid frame between an upper position and a lower position, dies on saidframe and ram operable lwhen said ram approaches said lower position tocrimp a conductor located at a crimping station, a feed slidehorizontally reciprocable between rearward and forward positions, aspring urging said feed slide in one horizontal direction, a cam and acam follower with one carried by said slide and the other carried bysaid ram, said cam being formed with a vertically facing inclinedsurface and a vertical surface extending from one end of said inclinedsurface, vertical movement of said ram causing engagement between saidinclined surface and follower resulting in movement of said slide tosaid forward position, said follower engaging said vertical surface inall positions between said lower position and an intermediate positionspaced from both said upper and lower positions, and means on said feedslide engageable with said perforations for moving a subsequentconnector to said crimping station each time Ysaid slide moves from saidrearward position to said forward position.

8. A crimping machine for crimping electrical connectors carried by aperforated tape comprising a frame, a ram vertically reciprocable onsaid frame between an upper position and a lower position, dies on saidframe and ram operable when said ram approaches said lower position tocrimp a conductor located at a crimping station, a feed slidehorizontally reciprocable between rearward and forward positions, aspring urging said feed slide toward said forward position, a camcarried by said ram, a cam follower carried by said feed slide, said cambeing formed with a downward facing inclined surface and a verticalsurface extending upwardly from one end of said inclined surface,downward movement of said ram from said upper position causingengagement between said inclined surface and follower resulting inmovement of said slide to said rearward position, said follower engagingsaid vertical surface in all positions between said lower position andan intermediate position spaced from both said upper and lowerpositions, and means on said feed slide engageable with saidperforations for moving a subsequent connector to said crimping stationeach time said slide moves from said rearward position to said forwardposition.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,876,452 3/1959 Herman et al.72-421 3,051,213 8/1962 Batcheller 72-413 3,283,558 11/1966 Henkel etal. 72-421 X 1,346,089 7/1920 Hasselstrom 83-278 X 3,167,107 l/l965Ustin et al, 72-421 X CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

